You ply your trade for 20 years. You view each day as an opportunity to learn and, if possible, give back. There are days that clients want to hug you. There are days that clients look at you with that far-away gaze and you think you might be crazy. That you might be pushing the envelope just a little too hard.
And, then...you're featured on Skift, the premier online aggregator of travel and tourism news, trends and thought. An online resource that you read every single day, without fail, to stay current.
What an unbelievable honor. Made even more so by so many friends and clients taking to Twitter, Facebook and e-mail to tell me "Right on." And, one peer who disagrees with my point of view. And, next week, we'll debate his extremely valid argument in this space.
Thanks to Skift and to Greg Oates for the salute...and for giving air to my vision of how Destination Marketing will evolve in the years ahead.
In your debate, relate the changing model to the small or smaller/medium-sized DMOs. All examples (not knocking them as we can all learn something from the big ones) so far are from larger DMOs. Whatcha got for the rest?
Posted by: Lee T | July 30, 2015 at 08:51
Not exactly true. Rockford is what I would call a "medium." But, I hear ya. The Gulf Shores example (social engagement) can be done by any size DMO. And, the Oakland example (getting your local media to quit bashing the community) can be, too. Salt Lake's conversion from Membership to Partnership (and generating more revenue) has been replicated by Eau Claire WI. I think many of the examples from the "bigs" can be scaled. It's less about resources than mindset, me thinks.
Posted by: Bill Geist | July 30, 2015 at 09:09